KULAI, April 12 — A police manhunt is underway for two Indonesian men who broke out of their transport van while being transported from Kota Tinggi to serve their prison sentence in Ledang and fled into an oil palm plantation yesterday.
The suspects, identified as Haji Samirudin, 36, and Riki Rinaldi, 40.
Kulai police chief Superintendent Tok Beng Yeow said the incident happened at 11.20am.
The duo were among four people arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering the country illegally without valid travel documents.
All four had been earlier taken to the Kota Tinggi courts where they were sentenced to six months imprisonment.
“Three MMEA officers were tasked to transport the four detainees in a van bound for the Ledang satellite prison to serve their sentences.
“However, while on their way to Ledang, the two detainees broke free of their handcuffs before kicking the van’s rear door to escape.
“They then ran off into an oil palm plantation near Jalan Felda Inas heading towards Sengkang here,” Tok said in a statement last night.
He said the other two unnamed convicts also fled but were recovered.
Police are now searching for Haji and Riki with the aid of a K9 tracker dog unit from the Johor police contingent.
Tok said the case has been classified under Section 223/224 of the Penal Code for escaping from authorities’ arrest.
“The penalty carries an imprisonment term of up to two years and a fine, or both upon conviction,” he said.
Police urge those with information to contact the Kulai district police at 07-663 7222 or the nearest police station.
